Pitso Mosimane is please that Sundowns will be able to play their normal carpet game on a pitch that he’s familiar with. NDOLA - For Mamelodi Sundowns‚ Saturday’s first leg of their Caf Champions League semifinal here in Ndola is about finding a balance between absorbing pressure from one of the competition’s best attacks while also trying to exploit Zesco United’s defensive weaknesses.Sundowns meet Zesco on a good Levy Mwanawasa Stadium surface that at least some of the players‚ and coach Pitso Mosimane‚ will be familiar with.Downs were invited by the Zambian club for a preseason tournament here three years ago as Mosimane had just begun forging continental experience at the Brazilians with his eye on future competitive successes.Zesco’s football in this year’s Champions League caught the attention of the Downs coach even before they entered the group phase. In their penultimate knockout phase game the Zambian club thrashed Mali’s Stade Malien 5-2 on aggregate‚ winning 3-1 in the away leg.Zesco have scored 24 goals in their 12 games (Sundowns have 13 in 10). Ten of those came in six games finishing runners-up to Wydad Casablanca in Group A.That Zesco also conceded nine goals points to the defensive frailties that Downs will be out to expose.Zesco are strong in Ndola – the capital of Zambia’s mining copperbelt. In the group stage they beat Al Ahly 3-2 here‚ and Asec Mimosas 3-1‚ but drew 1-1 against Wydad.“It shows how difficult it can be for us‚” Mosimane said.“But you must also understand – we’ve also been good on the road‚ except for the Nigeria trip.“All the away games we have played we have scored. And we have played big games – against Zamalek and Setif. So that’s what I’m hoping – that we can be consistent on that.”Sundowns lost their final Group B game 3-1 against Enyimba in Nigeria‚ but by then they had already wrapped up top spot and Mosimane fielded an understrength team. The Downs coach is pleased his side will be able to play their normal carpet game on a pitch he’s familiar with.“We were here three years ago. We know this pitch. It’s just that we have brought in new players who might not know the pitch.“But it’s one of the best away pitches. We’ve played in Dolisie‚ Medeama – so we can’t complain about the pitch.”Centreback Wayne Arendse was on Friday’s 4pm flight‚ having been excused from travelling with the team on Thursday because his wife gave birth to a second baby boy that day.Mosimane’s preparations – unlike Zesco‚ who last played away against Mufulira Wanderers in a 2-1 away win on Sunday – were disrupted by having to meet Maritzburg United in a 0-0 PSL draw with a second-string team at Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday night.Downs travelled by charter flight on Thursday and trained in Ndola.Sundowns’ schedule intimidating‚ but chance for players to write names in legend - MosimaneMamelodi Sundowns’ punishing schedule – contesting the league‚ and semifinals in Africa and at home – is intimidating‚ admits their coach Pitso Mosimane‚ but also a chance for their players to write their name in history. “I suppose‚ maybe‚ on Thursday‚ we didn’t do much – we were regenerating those who played against Maritzburg and are part of the Caf squad – players like Themba Zwane‚ Motjeka Madisha and Kennedy Mweene‚” Mosimane said.“Remember we don’t have enough in-field players – we’ve got 17. Some of those I couldn’t use [in full training] because they were regenerating.“But that’s the price you pay. It’s OK – we are not complaining‚ we are used to this thing now lately.”Zesco have three of the top eight scorers in the Champions League this year. DR Congo strike Idris Mbombo has five goals‚ and Kenyan striker Jesse Were and winger Clatous Chama four apiece. Playmaker John Ching’andu has three.The second leg is at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday‚ September 24. TMG Digital..